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Don't Want to Be Your Monster
Two vampire brothers must set aside their differences to solve a series of murders in this humorous and delightfully spooky novel for young readers, now in paperback.
Adam and Victor are brothers who have the usual fights over the remote, which movie to watch and whether or not it's morally acceptable to eat people. Well, not so much eat . . . just drink a little blood. They're vampires, hiding in plain sight with their eclectic yet loving family.
Ten-year-old Adam knows he has a better purpose in his life (well, immortal life) than just drinking blood, but fourteen-year-old Victor wants to accept his own self-image of vampirism. Everything changes when bodies start to appear all over town, and it becomes clear that a vampire hunter may be on the lookout for the family. Can Adam and Victor reconcile their differences and work together to stop the killer before it’s too late?
Adam and Victor are brothers who have the usual fights over the remote, which movie to watch and whether or not it's morally acceptable to eat people. Well, not so much eat . . . just drink a little blood. They're vampires, hiding in plain sight with their eclectic yet loving family.
Ten-year-old Adam knows he has a better purpose in his life (well, immortal life) than just drinking blood, but fourteen-year-old Victor wants to accept his own self-image of vampirism. Everything changes when bodies start to appear all over town, and it becomes clear that a vampire hunter may be on the lookout for the family. Can Adam and Victor reconcile their differences and work together to stop the killer before it’s too late?
Paperback
First published August 1, 2023
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About the author
Deke Moulton
4 books92 followersDEKE MOULTON is a writer currently living in the US Pacific Northwest. They are a former US Army drill sergeant and trained as an Arabic linguist during their time in service. Don't Want to Be Your Monster, their debut book, is a 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Reviews' Best Middle Grade Books of 2023.
They are represented by Rena Rossner.
They are represented by Rena Rossner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
May 10, 2023
Don't Want To Be Your Monster (DWTBYM) is my debut middle grade novel, and I couldn't be happier to share it with readers everywhere!
So much of the inspiration behind DWTBYM has come with deconstructing the antisemitism I've found behind so much of the classic vampire tropes (not to mention learning that Bram Stoker's Dracula was inspired in part due to his revulsion at Eastern European Jews immigrating to Britain). Ultimately, I became uncomfortable seeing vampires in books and movies perpetuating these mythologies. More often than not, vampires are often villains with little motivation beyond drinking blood (antisemitic trope called the blood libel!), and "controlling the world" (antisemitic trope!) often with a "secret cabal/council" (antisemitic trope!) to oversee these efforts. I'm not at all suggesting writers themselves ARE antisemitic when they use these vampire myths, but once you see the tropes (and have been victimized yourself because real life people think real life Jews actually do this stuff!), it's hard to want to write those tropes yourself.
When you come from a marginalized background, it's easy to see how vampire mythology can mirror the scapegoating of real-life minorities. Even if you think of the "classic Hollywood monster movies" of the early 20th century, often times "monsters" were used to perpetuate this fear of the other as something that wants to dominate, control, usurp... when real life minorities want to live a life of peace, security and safety.
DWTBYM is a vampire story written from the perspective of someone who understands how it feels to be made into monsters, to be forced to play the role of villain through no wrong doing of our own.
As a final note, please be aware that this book is written for middle grade readers aged 9-12, and that adults are not the intended audience. If you are an adult reader and reviewer, you may find the vocabulary, structure, characters or plot not up to adult standards, and that is by design!
Thank you for finding this book and I wish you a happy reading!
So much of the inspiration behind DWTBYM has come with deconstructing the antisemitism I've found behind so much of the classic vampire tropes (not to mention learning that Bram Stoker's Dracula was inspired in part due to his revulsion at Eastern European Jews immigrating to Britain). Ultimately, I became uncomfortable seeing vampires in books and movies perpetuating these mythologies. More often than not, vampires are often villains with little motivation beyond drinking blood (antisemitic trope called the blood libel!), and "controlling the world" (antisemitic trope!) often with a "secret cabal/council" (antisemitic trope!) to oversee these efforts. I'm not at all suggesting writers themselves ARE antisemitic when they use these vampire myths, but once you see the tropes (and have been victimized yourself because real life people think real life Jews actually do this stuff!), it's hard to want to write those tropes yourself.
When you come from a marginalized background, it's easy to see how vampire mythology can mirror the scapegoating of real-life minorities. Even if you think of the "classic Hollywood monster movies" of the early 20th century, often times "monsters" were used to perpetuate this fear of the other as something that wants to dominate, control, usurp... when real life minorities want to live a life of peace, security and safety.
DWTBYM is a vampire story written from the perspective of someone who understands how it feels to be made into monsters, to be forced to play the role of villain through no wrong doing of our own.
As a final note, please be aware that this book is written for middle grade readers aged 9-12, and that adults are not the intended audience. If you are an adult reader and reviewer, you may find the vocabulary, structure, characters or plot not up to adult standards, and that is by design!
Thank you for finding this book and I wish you a happy reading!
Read
May 2, 2024Thank you to the publisher/author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I’m removing my review from this book as the author is a Zionist. I honestly should’ve been more suspicious when I first read this book, as the cop character functions as a supportive and kind parental figure for the children in the story, which definitely caused me to raise an eyebrow.
CW: blood, violence, kidnapping, injury detail, poison, antisemitism, genocide, murder
I’m removing my review from this book as the author is a Zionist. I honestly should’ve been more suspicious when I first read this book, as the cop character functions as a supportive and kind parental figure for the children in the story, which definitely caused me to raise an eyebrow.
CW: blood, violence, kidnapping, injury detail, poison, antisemitism, genocide, murder
July 25, 2025
Best vampires ever!
Almost my first thought on beginning to read Don't Want to Be Your Monster was, “Is that an allusion to the Blood Libel, or am I imagining it?” I flipped to the back to check if there was an Author’s Note.
There was, and no, I was not imagining the reference to Blood Libel. Deke Moulton read Dracula and was annoyed at some of the downright silly rules that Stoker made up for vampires: they need to be invited to enter a home, they cannot withstand a crucifix, … Yeah, it’s all pretty weird and arbitrary — it annoyed me, too, when I read Dracula. But Moulton noticed other things I had not, which led them to believe that the vampire myth had its origins in the Blood Libel. From there they were led to reimagine vampires from the ground up. Moulton’s vampires are not Count Dracula, or even Spike and Angel from Buffy — they are much better thought out, and make more sense. They are people you can like and sympathize with.
By the way, I encourage anyone who’s interested to begin by reading the Author’s Note — it doesn’t spoil the story, and it will help you understand where Moulton’s ideas came from.
In fact, this is the story of a small family of vampires living in rural Virginia. The point of view pair is two brothers, Adam and Victor, who have questions about what they are and what’s the right way to live. On learning that a murderer is killing neighborhood kids, they feel morally obliged to do something about it. It’s a good exciting story.
If I have a complaint, it is that Moulton does tend to sermonize. I agree entirely with the point of the sermon and I think the story backs it up well. I just don’t like being preached at — I think most people don’t — and these heavy-handed “This is the point of the story” harangues weaken the lesson instead of making it stronger.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance reader copy of Don't Want to Be Your Monster. This review expresses my honest opinion.
Blog review.
Almost my first thought on beginning to read Don't Want to Be Your Monster was, “Is that an allusion to the Blood Libel, or am I imagining it?” I flipped to the back to check if there was an Author’s Note.
There was, and no, I was not imagining the reference to Blood Libel. Deke Moulton read Dracula and was annoyed at some of the downright silly rules that Stoker made up for vampires: they need to be invited to enter a home, they cannot withstand a crucifix, … Yeah, it’s all pretty weird and arbitrary — it annoyed me, too, when I read Dracula. But Moulton noticed other things I had not, which led them to believe that the vampire myth had its origins in the Blood Libel. From there they were led to reimagine vampires from the ground up. Moulton’s vampires are not Count Dracula, or even Spike and Angel from Buffy — they are much better thought out, and make more sense. They are people you can like and sympathize with.
By the way, I encourage anyone who’s interested to begin by reading the Author’s Note — it doesn’t spoil the story, and it will help you understand where Moulton’s ideas came from.
In fact, this is the story of a small family of vampires living in rural Virginia. The point of view pair is two brothers, Adam and Victor, who have questions about what they are and what’s the right way to live. On learning that a murderer is killing neighborhood kids, they feel morally obliged to do something about it. It’s a good exciting story.
If I have a complaint, it is that Moulton does tend to sermonize. I agree entirely with the point of the sermon and I think the story backs it up well. I just don’t like being preached at — I think most people don’t — and these heavy-handed “This is the point of the story” harangues weaken the lesson instead of making it stronger.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance reader copy of Don't Want to Be Your Monster. This review expresses my honest opinion.
Blog review.
September 13, 2024
this got me so frustrated istg. only the parents, oldest sibling and luis were remotely likable. the 2 brothers kept jumping to conclusions and were so not careful with their vampire identities. like adam thought that just because HE passed his bro's uni meant that the vamp hunter knew their existence...while victor revealed his vampire identity to a hostile entity at first meet 😃 adam is 10, i'll let it slide but victor is FOURTEEN he should be more mature than that???
plus their relationship was just * speechlessness * cuz they kept fighting and making up randomly and they don't seem to see why they fought. like adam was hurt that victor "didn't trust him anymore" and i was like bro YOU SNITCHED ON HIM
don't even get me started on the hostile entity aka alejandra bc she's a righteous know-it-all who thought victor didn't have parents and victor forgave her??? 💀
plus shoshana is so in-your-face Jewish and her whole personality's Jewish traditions and culture. i get that the author is Jewish and is criticizing the prosecution of Jews in the past, but like. why put it in a middle-grade book. cuz middle-grade students who yell 'alpha sigma skibidi' are not gonna care about this much.
the ending isn't wrapped up well but idk if it'll have sequels and honestly idc cuz this turned out to be such a disappointing read 😖😖 i knew i should have gone with ellen oh or literally any other book in the book list.
if you're reading this, thank you for making through this rant ;)))
battle of the books 24 #4
plus their relationship was just * speechlessness * cuz they kept fighting and making up randomly and they don't seem to see why they fought. like adam was hurt that victor "didn't trust him anymore" and i was like bro YOU SNITCHED ON HIM
don't even get me started on the hostile entity aka alejandra bc she's a righteous know-it-all who thought victor didn't have parents and victor forgave her??? 💀
plus shoshana is so in-your-face Jewish and her whole personality's Jewish traditions and culture. i get that the author is Jewish and is criticizing the prosecution of Jews in the past, but like. why put it in a middle-grade book. cuz middle-grade students who yell 'alpha sigma skibidi' are not gonna care about this much.
the ending isn't wrapped up well but idk if it'll have sequels and honestly idc cuz this turned out to be such a disappointing read 😖😖 i knew i should have gone with ellen oh or literally any other book in the book list.
if you're reading this, thank you for making through this rant ;)))
battle of the books 24 #4
December 28, 2023
Read in a day. Very enjoyable. Loved the brotherly love. I think it’s perfect for younger teens for sure. My only issue was the bad guy never actually showed up till like 75%? So for a murder mystery it floundered a bit there for me. But it’s also a kids book and I think was more about family than that? If that makes sense. Either way, definitely recommend.
June 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: blood, mention of murder, brief reference to gore, mention of an antisemitic attack, mention of leukemia, mention of parental abandonment, mention of past trauma
I originally connected with the author over Twitter, and when she was talking about writing a Jewish-oriented vampire book, I was immediately intrigued. You may not know this, but vampires have historically been written as Jewish-coded villains, beginning with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and continuing from there. So a book that subverts the antisemitism that’s basically baked into the vampire story was one that I couldn’t pass up. I did a happy dance when I got approved, and couldn’t wait to start this book. It doesn’t hurt that it start with a killer (no pun intended) first line:
“I know my brother is evil, but that has nothing to do with him being a vampire.”
The story is told from the perspectives of both Adam and Victor, who belong to a strange and unusual found family … of vampires. They have two moms, one from Italy and one from Sudan, an older sibling Sung from Korea who is studying hard for online college, and then there’s Adam and Victor. We learn pretty quickly that Adam is ethnically Jewish, but wasn’t raised with any knowledge of his religion. The two younger members of the family want to learn the cool vampire stuff that they’ll be able to do at some point, but their moms are focusing on stuff that they consider boring.
We get to see the whole vampire myth being rebuilt from the ground up. Instead of biting humans and draining their blood just to kill them, they are able to use their powers to heal instead, making them able to develop symbiotic relationships with humans, rather than parasitic relationships. It was cool to see the whole dynamic changed, and done so beautifully. The reason for the shift in dynamics between vampires and humans is also explained.
I loved the two different main characters, and getting into their heads. Do they make stupid mistakes? Of course, but what 10- or 14-year-old doesn’t? It felt more realistic than anything, and while yes, they’re both vampires, it was easy to get into their mindset and empathize with their struggles. The side characters were also written so well. They have full personalities complete with realistic quirks, and I loved getting to know all of them.
Everything flowed so smoothly, and I almost felt as if I was in the Pacific Northwest while reading. It was a nice change from the smoke blowing down from Canada. This story was a fun, fast-paced, adorable, and a little spooky read that I loved so much. There’s so much diversity in the story, with a cast of characters from various countries and backgrounds, and we get to learn a bit about each throughout the story without it feeling like a lesson at any time. Moulton is a gifted writer, and I’ll be looking forward to any other books that they put out. In their author’s note, this really stood out to me:
“Hate doesn’t die in silence—it thrives. The only way to stop it from growing is to call it out when you see it, in whatever form it takes.”
CONTENT WARNING: blood, mention of murder, brief reference to gore, mention of an antisemitic attack, mention of leukemia, mention of parental abandonment, mention of past trauma
I originally connected with the author over Twitter, and when she was talking about writing a Jewish-oriented vampire book, I was immediately intrigued. You may not know this, but vampires have historically been written as Jewish-coded villains, beginning with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and continuing from there. So a book that subverts the antisemitism that’s basically baked into the vampire story was one that I couldn’t pass up. I did a happy dance when I got approved, and couldn’t wait to start this book. It doesn’t hurt that it start with a killer (no pun intended) first line:
“I know my brother is evil, but that has nothing to do with him being a vampire.”
The story is told from the perspectives of both Adam and Victor, who belong to a strange and unusual found family … of vampires. They have two moms, one from Italy and one from Sudan, an older sibling Sung from Korea who is studying hard for online college, and then there’s Adam and Victor. We learn pretty quickly that Adam is ethnically Jewish, but wasn’t raised with any knowledge of his religion. The two younger members of the family want to learn the cool vampire stuff that they’ll be able to do at some point, but their moms are focusing on stuff that they consider boring.
We get to see the whole vampire myth being rebuilt from the ground up. Instead of biting humans and draining their blood just to kill them, they are able to use their powers to heal instead, making them able to develop symbiotic relationships with humans, rather than parasitic relationships. It was cool to see the whole dynamic changed, and done so beautifully. The reason for the shift in dynamics between vampires and humans is also explained.
I loved the two different main characters, and getting into their heads. Do they make stupid mistakes? Of course, but what 10- or 14-year-old doesn’t? It felt more realistic than anything, and while yes, they’re both vampires, it was easy to get into their mindset and empathize with their struggles. The side characters were also written so well. They have full personalities complete with realistic quirks, and I loved getting to know all of them.
Everything flowed so smoothly, and I almost felt as if I was in the Pacific Northwest while reading. It was a nice change from the smoke blowing down from Canada. This story was a fun, fast-paced, adorable, and a little spooky read that I loved so much. There’s so much diversity in the story, with a cast of characters from various countries and backgrounds, and we get to learn a bit about each throughout the story without it feeling like a lesson at any time. Moulton is a gifted writer, and I’ll be looking forward to any other books that they put out. In their author’s note, this really stood out to me:
“Hate doesn’t die in silence—it thrives. The only way to stop it from growing is to call it out when you see it, in whatever form it takes.”
August 21, 2023
I went into this expecting...more? I've read a few middle grade horror books that genuinely spooked me (as an adult) and while I know that it's ridiculous for me to expect more in a kid's book, this was definitely more of a metaphorical horror than a literal one (which was interesting considering that the mcs are vampires.)
That being said, the family connection was great and I loved the LGBTQ+ rep of the one sibling! I also appreciated the comparison of hunting creatures like Vampires for being different and for the stereotypes and the genocide of Jewish people during WW2. I never thought of making that comparison, but it is a very fitting one. Especially when the author explained at the end of the novel of the influences behind Dracula and the consequences of such harmful stereotypes.
The hunter was a creepy and evil man and it was very hard watching this man not give a crap about the fact that he was threatening to kill children.
This wasn't a favourite, but the message behind it is a powerful one. I recommend this, not for the "spook factor" but for the comparisons the author makes!
Happy reading!
That being said, the family connection was great and I loved the LGBTQ+ rep of the one sibling! I also appreciated the comparison of hunting creatures like Vampires for being different and for the stereotypes and the genocide of Jewish people during WW2. I never thought of making that comparison, but it is a very fitting one. Especially when the author explained at the end of the novel of the influences behind Dracula and the consequences of such harmful stereotypes.
The hunter was a creepy and evil man and it was very hard watching this man not give a crap about the fact that he was threatening to kill children.
This wasn't a favourite, but the message behind it is a powerful one. I recommend this, not for the "spook factor" but for the comparisons the author makes!
Happy reading!
July 29, 2023
Don't Want to Be Your Monster is a great and much-needed addition to the vampire canon. Deke Moulton set out to deconstruct the antisemitism behind so many common attributes of vampire stories, and they absolutely delivered. The author's note provides even more insight into the history of these tropes. This is definitely what's at the heart of the book, but the story doesn't feel like it's simply a vehicle for these points to be made; the plot is interesting and the characters are compelling. Recommended for readers of all ages!
CW: antisemitism, including a past fatal attack on a synagogue; murder, including of minors; blood
I received an early finished copy of the book from the publisher.
CW: antisemitism, including a past fatal attack on a synagogue; murder, including of minors; blood
I received an early finished copy of the book from the publisher.
August 14, 2023
GOD I LOVED THIS BOOK. I read it all in one sitting. The characters were really cute and fun to follow. The family dynamics and queer representation just made my heart so happy. I love the subtle message behind the book and how mature it felt at times for a middle grade. I dont think this book ever talked down to its audience and as an adult reading this i found it incredibly fun. The plot was really well paced and explained and the vampire lore in this was super interesting. Go read this book!! It's so good!
Want to read
July 27, 2021Jewish lore? Vampires? Gosh I need this book so badly!!
December 27, 2023
Review originally published 24 Dec 2023 at Falling Letters.
I enjoyed Don’t Want to be Your Monster a lot more than I thought I would. Vampires make me wary (as do authors advertising that their book isn't up to 'adult standards') but hey, this is the second middle grade vampire book I’ve read and loved in recent months! (The other being The Last Hope in Hopetown .)
The story is told in first person, with chapters alternating between brothers Adam and Victor. (Strictly speaking, chapters don’t always alternate. Sometimes several chapters in a row are told from the same perspective. But you get my meaning.) Adam, the younger brother at 10 years old, worries about his family and about the mortals being murdered. 14 year old Victor cares less about the murders and more about vampire oppression, and how he can protect his little brother. The two clash over their differing priorities and struggle with communication. This dynamic between brothers isn’t something I’ve read often in middle grade. It’s one of the main strengths of the novel.
The nature of vampires being secret from society at large allows Moulton to craft a unique family dynamic. Adam and Victor are both ‘foster’ kids, taken in by their moms after they (ie Adam and Victor) became vampires. Both boys have tragic backstories as to how they became vampires, which impact their views of the world. Their vampiric nature shapes the story in further ways, such as the story being set primarily (entirely?) at night because vampires can’t abide sunlight. Plus, throughout the book, there’s a lot of creative lore about vampires’ place in the world and how society’s views of them changed over hundreds of years.
The murder plot is also well crafted. The narrative’s dark at times and doesn’t shy away from the fact that these are murders of innocent people, meant to draw out vampires, but it doesn’t become too mired in either gore or guilt. The mystery of who is killing people isn’t particularly complex, there aren’t any “OMG WHAT A SHOCK” twists, yet the story is well-paced with plenty of high tension moments as they race to to stop the villain.
Lastly! The story also does some gentle work to push back against anti-semitism. One of Adam’s new friends is Jewish, and Adam learns he has grown up disconnected from his Jewish heritage (being vague to avoid spoilers). Parallels are drawn between the persecution of Jews and vampires. I did not know until I started learning more about this book that some vampire tropes have their roots in anti-semitism. I recommend you check out this interview conducted by Amanda @ Bookish Brews to read more from Moulton on this topic.
The Bottom Line 💭 For a contemporary middle grade tale about the conflict and bond between brothers which incorporates a healthy dose of dark moments alongside heartwarming moments, be sure to pick up Don’t Want to Be Your Monster.
I enjoyed Don’t Want to be Your Monster a lot more than I thought I would. Vampires make me wary (as do authors advertising that their book isn't up to 'adult standards') but hey, this is the second middle grade vampire book I’ve read and loved in recent months! (The other being The Last Hope in Hopetown .)
The story is told in first person, with chapters alternating between brothers Adam and Victor. (Strictly speaking, chapters don’t always alternate. Sometimes several chapters in a row are told from the same perspective. But you get my meaning.) Adam, the younger brother at 10 years old, worries about his family and about the mortals being murdered. 14 year old Victor cares less about the murders and more about vampire oppression, and how he can protect his little brother. The two clash over their differing priorities and struggle with communication. This dynamic between brothers isn’t something I’ve read often in middle grade. It’s one of the main strengths of the novel.
The nature of vampires being secret from society at large allows Moulton to craft a unique family dynamic. Adam and Victor are both ‘foster’ kids, taken in by their moms after they (ie Adam and Victor) became vampires. Both boys have tragic backstories as to how they became vampires, which impact their views of the world. Their vampiric nature shapes the story in further ways, such as the story being set primarily (entirely?) at night because vampires can’t abide sunlight. Plus, throughout the book, there’s a lot of creative lore about vampires’ place in the world and how society’s views of them changed over hundreds of years.
The murder plot is also well crafted. The narrative’s dark at times and doesn’t shy away from the fact that these are murders of innocent people, meant to draw out vampires, but it doesn’t become too mired in either gore or guilt. The mystery of who is killing people isn’t particularly complex, there aren’t any “OMG WHAT A SHOCK” twists, yet the story is well-paced with plenty of high tension moments as they race to to stop the villain.
Lastly! The story also does some gentle work to push back against anti-semitism. One of Adam’s new friends is Jewish, and Adam learns he has grown up disconnected from his Jewish heritage (being vague to avoid spoilers). Parallels are drawn between the persecution of Jews and vampires. I did not know until I started learning more about this book that some vampire tropes have their roots in anti-semitism. I recommend you check out this interview conducted by Amanda @ Bookish Brews to read more from Moulton on this topic.
The Bottom Line 💭 For a contemporary middle grade tale about the conflict and bond between brothers which incorporates a healthy dose of dark moments alongside heartwarming moments, be sure to pick up Don’t Want to Be Your Monster.
August 14, 2023
Vampires have a history as unquestionably one of the most recognized creatures in all horror. With roots extending back into folklore, Jewish writer Deke Moulton is fully aware of a truth too few know or want to recognize. The antisemitic roots of many portrayals of vampires. Blood-sucking fiends whose crimes are so deeply ingrained in old blood libel myths that most don’t even know they’re there. In Don't Want to Be Your Monster, Moulton revamps the myth as a tale of family and reclamation.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
Read
September 28, 2023Wow…Just wow. An excellent debut with not only a great premise, but great characters and a great message behind it!
I expected it to be more of a horror book going in, but through and through it’s more of a heartwarming drama with vampires. Very Netflix teen drama type stuff which is probably why I liked it so much!
I expected it to be more of a horror book going in, but through and through it’s more of a heartwarming drama with vampires. Very Netflix teen drama type stuff which is probably why I liked it so much!
July 19, 2022
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. Too many caps? TOO BAD. It's THAT GOOD, OKAY!?
I have to be honest. I was a little worried about how someone was going to tactfully handle creating a Jewish vampire. So I slowly creaked open the book... bracing for some cringy moments. But what I found inside was beautiful. Wait, wait, wait. A middle grade book about two boy vampires is "beautiful?" Yes!
The overarching message of the importance of looking out for your fellow humans (or non-humans!) is done so effortlessly and gracefully. The Jewish idea that if *they* are coming for someone, it's only a matter of time before they come for you too is woven throughout in such a lovely non-preachy, organic way.
And can I just take a minute to kvell over the representation in this book??? There are so many different identities in this book and yet no one is DEFINED by their identity- it's just a part of who they are. It was... *chef's kiss*. And the boys with SO MANY EMOTIONS. This is a book that every middle grade boy should read just for how the main characters' emotions are handled and shown in such a realistic way.
But beyond all the beautiful themes of found family and self-expression and living peacefully together that will make you tear up multiple times (especially if you're Jewish)... this story was also just BAD ASS. The pacing was stellar and each chapter ending made me immediately want to turn the page (to the detriment of my sleep).
There are so many levels on which to adore this book. This is one that's going to stay with me. 10/10.
I have to be honest. I was a little worried about how someone was going to tactfully handle creating a Jewish vampire. So I slowly creaked open the book... bracing for some cringy moments. But what I found inside was beautiful. Wait, wait, wait. A middle grade book about two boy vampires is "beautiful?" Yes!
The overarching message of the importance of looking out for your fellow humans (or non-humans!) is done so effortlessly and gracefully. The Jewish idea that if *they* are coming for someone, it's only a matter of time before they come for you too is woven throughout in such a lovely non-preachy, organic way.
And can I just take a minute to kvell over the representation in this book??? There are so many different identities in this book and yet no one is DEFINED by their identity- it's just a part of who they are. It was... *chef's kiss*. And the boys with SO MANY EMOTIONS. This is a book that every middle grade boy should read just for how the main characters' emotions are handled and shown in such a realistic way.
But beyond all the beautiful themes of found family and self-expression and living peacefully together that will make you tear up multiple times (especially if you're Jewish)... this story was also just BAD ASS. The pacing was stellar and each chapter ending made me immediately want to turn the page (to the detriment of my sleep).
There are so many levels on which to adore this book. This is one that's going to stay with me. 10/10.
March 19, 2024
Look, there were some interesting ideas here, but the execution was not great. I liked that the book dug into the anti-Semitic roots of most vampire tropes, but it was rather clunky. (With a particularly on the nose moment where one of the character tells another character that they're only upset about the supposed eradication of vampires because said character is Jewish.) If ideas weren't being clunky, then they were just wasted. Beatrice, Samira, and Sung have a incredibly interesting backstories, but outside of a line here or there, we get nothing. (Beatrice was a vampire nun who also happened to be a vampire hunter. You're really not going to do anything with that?) Samira talks about how things used to be, back when vampires and mortals were friendly, but very little time is spent with that.
But the thing that drove me up the wall with this book was the murder plot. There is a suspected serial killer running around down and no one really seems to be taking this seriously. Is the rest of the town not aware of this? It's possible I missed that, and the only reason that Luis knows about this is because his father is a cop, but if that was the case, my point still stands: why are the parents just letting their kids run around? Are there no strict curfews? The murders are pretty grisly; people are being left to bleed out. I need for the other characters in the book to realize the weight of the situation, and not act like they're in an episode of Scooby-Doo.
But the thing that drove me up the wall with this book was the murder plot. There is a suspected serial killer running around down and no one really seems to be taking this seriously. Is the rest of the town not aware of this? It's possible I missed that, and the only reason that Luis knows about this is because his father is a cop, but if that was the case, my point still stands: why are the parents just letting their kids run around? Are there no strict curfews? The murders are pretty grisly; people are being left to bleed out. I need for the other characters in the book to realize the weight of the situation, and not act like they're in an episode of Scooby-Doo.
July 28, 2021
Congratulations Layla!! Can’t wait to read this 🔥🔥
July 3, 2022
Doesn't even understand the tropes they're "deconstructing", has never read Dracula, and reviewing your own book is narcissistic cheating.
December 10, 2022
An action-filled twist on vampires that celebrates empathy, compassion, and seeing the world through the eyes of someone much different from you. Blood, gore, and a whole lot of heart!
August 4, 2023
Every time the world doesn't get better [people] just draw a line between who's good and an entire group of people who are suddenly 'monsters'
This book was SO GOOD that I didn't want it to be over! That being said -- this book is the IDEAL shorter MG book that we need more of in the reading world. I have so much love for long books, but kids and teens especially -- and even me as an adult with really bad ADHD -- NEED shorter books to help foster their love of reading -- and Deke and their misfit band of vampires (and friends) do that to a T.
There's so much I can say about this book. I loved the casual representation throughout the book, from Mom and Mama, to Sung, to Adam and Shoshana -- every character in this cast. Nothing about who these characters are and their identities (be it race or queerness or religion) felt shoehorned in.
Additionally, in dual POVs, especially with new authors, they often fall into the pitfall of their POVs sounding same-y. This definitely wasn't the case here -- both Adam and Victor have distinct voices that highlight their struggle to communicate with one another. Both brothers fear ending up alone and are unable to express their fears, as well as their love, of one another, until a near tragedy eventually brings them together.
Tone is another strength of Deke's writing. While the stakes (tehe) are high, while some of the character's backstories are tragic, there is still a great deal of levity and light that shines through the dark times, and that really is the star of this novel, making it perfect for it's intended MG audience.
I seriously cannot recommend this enough to readers of all ages -- from MG to Teens to Adults. I'd been excited for this novel for years and I am SO GLAD it not only met, but exceeded my expectations.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher, as well as an annotated ARC from a charity auction (gifted to me by a friend).
November 11, 2023
2023 Cybils Elementary / Middle Grade Speculative Fiction nominee
I have low expectations for vampire books, but this one surprised me. These vampire kids are growing up, but the two brothers are at an awkward age where one is a teen and one is not. They are suddenly misunderstanding each other a lot, both thinking the other is pulling away.
Meanwhile there is a vicious murderer wandering about, and it might be a vampire hunter willing to sacrifice anyone to get his murderous goal. This provides several opportunities for the kids to move at cross purposes. I really liked the world building -- vampires are real and a known thing, but everyone thinks they were hunted to extinction ages ago, unlike mermaids for example. And kids have real issues, and older kids have slightly better but not perfect understanding of adult stuff. And I liked the Jewish representation.
I have low expectations for vampire books, but this one surprised me. These vampire kids are growing up, but the two brothers are at an awkward age where one is a teen and one is not. They are suddenly misunderstanding each other a lot, both thinking the other is pulling away.
Meanwhile there is a vicious murderer wandering about, and it might be a vampire hunter willing to sacrifice anyone to get his murderous goal. This provides several opportunities for the kids to move at cross purposes. I really liked the world building -- vampires are real and a known thing, but everyone thinks they were hunted to extinction ages ago, unlike mermaids for example. And kids have real issues, and older kids have slightly better but not perfect understanding of adult stuff. And I liked the Jewish representation.
March 14, 2024
This was such an enjoyable read! Deke Moulton did a phenomenal job showcasing the complicated elements of brotherly love and how easy it is to misunderstand someone you care about. I loved how they incorporated the lore of vampires to fit in with real world history and how they used the mortals' treatment of vampires as a metaphor for colonizers' treatment of marginalized groups.
I also appreciated how in the author's note Deke informed us about how Dracula was based Jewish caricature. I was unaware of that and will definitely be keeping this in mind whenever I get around to it.
Overall, a very solid middle grade that I highly recommend for young readers.
I also appreciated how in the author's note Deke informed us about how Dracula was based Jewish caricature. I was unaware of that and will definitely be keeping this in mind whenever I get around to it.
Overall, a very solid middle grade that I highly recommend for young readers.
November 6, 2023
A fresh new take on vampire lore that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The well-developed plot and characters will draw you into the story and tug at your heart. It's a murder mystery that has just enough creepiness and blood that will appeal to reader of all ages. The biggest plus of the story is the positive message of inclusiveness. It's really hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Deke Moulton is an author worth watching and I can't help but to hope that many more books will follow this one.
July 15, 2025
I was not expecting this to be 5 stars. It started easily enough with two brothers who happen to be vampires, so I was fully expecting a sibling storyline of one growing up (14) while the other felt left behind (10). While that was part of the book, the storyline shifted and added in a vampire hunter, a completely new perspective on vampires, and a wonderful message about hate and persecution. I was not expecting all that!
August 28, 2023
Told from alternating view points, this is a spooky, action packed adventure that had me on the edge of my seat while reading. In fact, several times I forgot I was supposed to be looking for favorite quotes because I was so caught up in the story! I'm always a sucker for found family, though this is family in the more traditional sense, and the inclusion of how they all came to be vampires was absolutely fascinating. I also love the displays of Jewish faith - including how Shoshana does research to see if vampires can be Jewish - and how the author cleverly subverts the antisemetic stereotypes of vampire lore. Through this book, I hope that young readers can learn to spot when groups are being otherized, and change for the better.
November 3, 2024
I thought this book was a really interesting story, sort of highlighting how much vampire myths are connected to antisemitism. I also liked that this book is set in Washington state, which, as a resident of the state, I feel is a very uncommon setting for most books, which are set in New York and other larger cities.
March 21, 2023
So good! A compelling middle grade paranormal mystery with a close-knit family and a fresh take on vampires
December 18, 2023
Fun upper elementary read set in my town! Lots of local locations and references.
Beyond the local connection, I also loved the inclusion of two moms, foster parenting, and Judaism.
Beyond the local connection, I also loved the inclusion of two moms, foster parenting, and Judaism.
January 30, 2024
Children’s book- vampire myths exploded- author links fear of vampires to antisemitism. Great tool to explore antisemeticism and need to “other” with middle school or upper elementary kids.
August 21, 2023
I had been looking forward to reading this book ever since a friend told me about it ages ago. And I was not disappointed.
Deke has created a beautiful middle grade story about family, friendship, and identity, woven around a murder mystery with a difference. It mainly follows adopted brothers Adam and Victor, who are both vampires. Throughout the book, the boys struggle to find their place in a world in which they are seen as monsters. But over time they come to find true friends in the mortals that they meet, and grow a stronger bond together.
The characters in this book are beautifully diverse and nuanced. All of them are given enough time to express who they are, so you get to know them well. And in the process, Deke breaks down the antisemitic stereotypes that so much of our vampire folklore is based on. It is incredibly well written, and is a must read for anyone who has ever read a book or watched a show with vampires in (so, most of us)!
Deke has created a beautiful middle grade story about family, friendship, and identity, woven around a murder mystery with a difference. It mainly follows adopted brothers Adam and Victor, who are both vampires. Throughout the book, the boys struggle to find their place in a world in which they are seen as monsters. But over time they come to find true friends in the mortals that they meet, and grow a stronger bond together.
The characters in this book are beautifully diverse and nuanced. All of them are given enough time to express who they are, so you get to know them well. And in the process, Deke breaks down the antisemitic stereotypes that so much of our vampire folklore is based on. It is incredibly well written, and is a must read for anyone who has ever read a book or watched a show with vampires in (so, most of us)!
April 13, 2025
so this was a book club book. I normally like book club books, but this was not interesting for me. Too cliche. 1.5 stars
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